Gavin Bailey Powers Mahomet-Seymour to Sweep Over Charleston with Back-to-Back Three-Run Homers
By Fred Kroner
Gavin Bailey slugged three-run home runs in each Apollo Conference game on Saturday (April 13) as Mahomet-Seymour swept a baseball doubleheader at home from Charleston, 9-0 and 11-1.
Bailey was 3-for-6 for the twin bill and also drilled a double. He drove in eight runs.
M-S received superlative pitching performances, starting with Mason Orton in the opener.
In 5 2/3 innings, Orton gave up one hit and four walks. He struck out a season-high 10 batters. Alec Bergman worked 1 1/3 hitless innings in relief. He walked two and struck out two.
The combined shutout was the team’s first of the year.
In Game 2, Finn Randolph pitched a complete-game, five-inning two-hitter. He did not permit an earned run or issue a walk. He matched his season’s high with eight strikeouts.
Bulldogs with hits in both games – besides Bailey – were Camden Heinold, Raymond Long, Cade Starrick, Tyson Finch and Noah Butler.
Randolph, Long and Finch finished with two hits in the first game. Starrick popped two hits in the second game.
Heinold, Randolph and Bailey all scored four runs for the day. Heinold and Long delivered three runs batted in between the two games.
M-S is 4-0 in Apollo Conference action.
On Thursday (April 11), Mahomet-Seymour’s late-game rally fell short and the Bulldogs dropped a 7-6 decision at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley.
M-S scored three runs in the seventh inning, but couldn’t push across the tying run.
Matthew Orr led the Bulldogs with two hits and three runs batted in.
Teammates Bailey, Starrick and Miles Woolsey all ended with one hit.
Long and Woolsey had one RBI apiece.
Long scored two runs. Crossing home plate once each were Heinold, Orr, Randolph and Starrick.
Kody Ackman pitched the first 2 1/3 innings and suffered the loss. He walked two, struck out two and allowed two earned runs.
Nolan Johnson (1 2/3 innings) and Long (two innings) followed Ackman to the mound. Long recorded four strikeouts.
M-S (8-5) returns to action on Tuesday (April 16) at Pontiac.
